NiP come out ahead in tight affair with Acend

The second match of the day in Europe featured Ninjas in Pyjamas and Acend, and ended up being incredibly tight. The teams pushed each other and adapted to each other each step of the way, but in the end, NiP snuck out with the win. They’ll face Team Heretics in the upper bracket next week, while Acend will match up against Ballista Esports on Sunday.

Ascent was the first map, one that’s always been big for Acend. NiP ran without a single duelist, while Acend put their big fraggers Vladyslav "kiles" Shvets and Mehmet Yağız "cNed" İpek on Reyna and Jett. As things began, Acend showed exactly why they had chosen the map. They had their strategies and pulled them off, with every player contributing. cNed had some great rounds on the Operator too. But NiP pulled things back, regaining their confidence and having players like Egor "chiwa" Stepanyuk and Yaroslav "Jady" Nikolaev pull off some big holds. The half ended at an even 6-6.

The second half began just as hectic as before, with Acend coming out on top thanks to cNed’s absolutely fearless play. But, like the first half, NiP pulled it back. Their A attacks paid off to tie up the score again. Kévin "akukhoS" Droolans clearly paid off like it often has, pulling Acend around the map, and despite a big hold by kiles, NiP would edge out the win, 13-11.

For NiP’s pick of Haven, the teams actually opted for very similar compositions, the differences being different duelists, Jett vs. Raze, and different flashers, Skye vs. Breach. The pistol round was a very interesting one, with an A execute for NiP leading into a satchel boost up to heaven for Emir "rhyme" Muminovic, before cNed pulled off a great retake ending with a knife kill directly into gunfire.

While Acend converted the second, NiP began to show their strengths. They would take a site and be perfectly prepared for the retake that was to come, their fundamentals were very well done. Round after round they’d take C and play to defend the plant, and it was only late in the half that Acend managed to adjust and pull some rounds back. Things ended 6-6.

The second half was bloody. Repeatedly, rounds would end with hardly anyone alive, as NiP Acend played aggressively and willingly sacrificed bodies to take sites. Ultimately, though, Acend would edge ahead. Their flanking and aggressive plays seemed to catch NiP off guard. On 12 rounds, they seemed to have the map, but with their backs against the wall, NiP went aggressive. They routinely caught multiple members early each round, helping them win four straight to take it to overtime. Once there, the story was the same. The momentum was too far in their favour, and they worked the map well to pull off the comeback. The map was 14-12, and the series 2-0, in NiP’s favour.

VCT 2021 - Stage 1 - Europe Masters

Acend

0

X

2

Ninjas in Pyjamas

Group A - Opening Match, Best of 3 - March 12, 2021 - 6:15PM

11

Ascent

13

12

Haven

14

Acend

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

cNed

1.27

280

49/37/5

+12

1.32

0.0%

189.5

27%

65%

11

6

koldamenta

0.94

200

33/40/17

-7

0.83

0.0%

125.1

15%

80%

4

1

starxo

0.81

153

25/33/19

-8

0.76

0.0%

99.2

22%

33%

2

4

BONECOLD

0.76

160

29/37/9

-8

0.78

0.0%

101.1

31%

54%

7

6

kiles

0.74

166

29/38/6

-9

0.76

0.0%

105.4

30%

33%

3

6

Ninjas in Pyjamas

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

chiwa

1.34

284

50/36/10

+14

1.39

0.0%

169.9

28%

36%

4

7

Jady

1.22

234

40/31/20

+9

1.29

0.0%

145.9

34%

50%

3

3

rhyme

1.05

228

37/32/12

+5

1.16

0.0%

144.2

25%

56%

9

7

CREA

0.87

185

31/31/10

0

1.00

0.0%

122.2

30%

60%

6

4

akukhoS

0.80

154

27/35/16

-8

0.77

0.0%

93.6

31%

14%

1

6